Shillong, Mar 25:Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today said that a decision regarding the conduct of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) elections will be taken after consultations with the council’s leadership.
The elections had been scheduled for April 10 but were then postponed following violent protests over the issue of non-tribal participation. The GHADC has since passed an amendment to mandate that all candidates produce Scheduled Tribe certificates, which should placate the majority Garo population. The government has also extended the tenure of the current GHADC by six months, up to October, but elections can be held before then.
Speaking to reporters, Sangma clarified that the final decision on the election does not rest with the state government. He stated that while the government can offer guidance and suggestions, the authority to make a decision lies with the district council itself.
“The district council is an autonomous body, and it will take a call. We are in touch with the leadership, including the new Chief Executive Member and the Executive Committee and, based on those discussions, we will decide the way forward,” he said.
